Saibaba trust got Rs 275 crore donation in 2012

Shirdi: The Saibaba Shirdi Sansthan Trust received a donation of Rs 274.71 crore from devotees last year, a senior trust official said.

Devotees also donated 36 kg of gold in various forms in 2012, estimated to be worth Rs 11 crore, Sansthan's executive officer Kishor More said yesterday.

However, the Sansthan received 373 kg of silver in the last calendar year, even as it received 440 kg of the metal in 2011, More said.

The Sansthan had recently melted the treasure's 37 kg gold and 513 kg silver for making coins while it still has about 300 kg gold and 4,000 kg silver with it, he said.

In 2011, the trust had received Rs 225.55 crore cash, while last year the cash donation increased by about 20 per cent, he said.

Out of the Rs 274.71 crore cash, Rs 57 crore was earned through the Sansthan's donation counters, Rs 180.74 crore through cash boxes and Rs 40 crore was received through cheques, online and money orders, More said.

Sansthan's fixed deposits with various nationalised banks in 2012 were worth Rs 803 crore, while deposits in 2011 were of Rs 580 crore.

Last year, there was also an increase in foreign exchange worth Rs 8.30 crore, while in 2011 it was Rs 6.28 crore, he added.